Tractor.



E. J. PATTERSON & F. S. MOORE.

TRAGTOR.

APPLIOATION FILED DEG.10, 1912.

Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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' w/ TNESSE-S E. J. PATTERSON &; F. S. MOGVSUE. TRACTOR.

APPLICATION TILED DEC. 10 1912 1,127,503. Patented Feb.'9,1915.

3 SHEETS-SHbET 3 W/T/VESSES INVENTOR-S.

EJP it M M1103? 1 B- w fig lay out, of the complete tractor.

' marked thereon,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDIE J. PATTERSON AND FREDERICK S. MOORE, OF STOCKTON, C ALIFORNIA.

TRACTOR.

the county of San Joaquin, State of California; have invented certain new and use ful Improvements ineTractors; and we do declare the followingto be a full, clear, and" exact description of the same, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, refer ence being had to the accompanying drawings, and to" the characters of reference which form a part of this application.

This 1nvention relates to improvements in tractors and particularly to that type known as endless belt tractor, the object of the in-- vention being to producesuch atype of tractor as will be so constructed and ar- "ranged as to permit ofthe same to be used both as a tractor and truck, the same being permitted by reason of the adaptable arrangement of the motor, transmission and driving means.

The invention further embodies a simplified form of driving means and differential and also embodies an improved and samplified form ofuendless belt tract wheel which will present an uninterrupted smooth flat tread to the ground surface, the joints of. such track being open flexible joints and not fittedjoints as are now commonly used, the object ofour improved structure be ng to provide such a track as can be readily due to its lack of fitted joints, will permit it to be readily cleared of dirt or debris which may collect between the joints.

A" further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one, which will be exceedingly ef-. fective for the purposes for which it is designed.

These objects, we accomplish by meansof such structure and relative ,arrangement of the parts as will fully appear Jay a perusal of the following specification and claim.

On the drawings similarcharacters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views. g

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken Fig. 2 is a top plan view, partly broken out, of the complete device with the truck bed removed. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on Specification of Letters Patent.

(p a line XX of Fig. 2. Fig. 4; is a sectional 5 is a top plan view of the wheels or rollers.

upon which the endless belt wheel ismounted. F ig.'6 is a side elevation of the endless belt structure partly broken out. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the underside of a portion of the endless belt. Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on "a line ZZ of Fig. 7.

Referring now more particularly to the Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

Application filed December 10, 1912. Serial No. 735.946.

characters of reference on the drawings, the

numeral 1 designates the frame of. the machine provided with cross members 2 having outside beams 3 and 3 spaced on each side from the member 1 to form intervening channels' l and 4? to receive the endless belt wheel structure as will appear. The-meme her 1 is supported at its forward end by means of a steering wheel 5 journaled in a frame 6 having a post 7 movable vertically through a guide 8 on the endof an arm 9 projecting fromthe frame 1, there being a spring .10 interposed between the members 6 and the member 8 to prevent any undue strain on the 'member'9 as the wheel 5 encounters uneven surfacesofthe ground. On

the member 6 is a geared quadrant 11 pr'o 'je'ctin'g into a slot 12 in a casting Y13 and movable against horizontal rollers 14 and vertical rollers 15-to hold it in true and easy running position. Said quadrant engages a worm gear 16 mounted on a shaft .17 ,iournaled in the member 13. On one end of the shaft 17 is a beveled gear 18 engaging av beveled gear, 19 mounted on the steering post 20. By means of the above structure the wheel 5, which is the steering wheel of the device, may be turned easily and quickly in any direction desired.

The numeral'21 designates the motor ,;of the device suitably mounted on the frame of the device and having the usual shaft 22 connected with a reversible; transmission gearing 23 of any particular type, but preferably of that type shown by Patent No. 1,011,481, dated December 12th, 1911.

The numeral 2 1 designates the driving shaft leading from the transmission 23 and journaled in across beam 25 on the member 1. Mounted on the said shaft 24 are two gears 26 and 27. The gear 26 is connected by a chain 28 with'a gear 29, mounted on a I shaft 30 and provided with a clutch 31, such clutch having a suitable operating lever mechanism 32. The gear 27 is connectedby a chain 33 with a gear 34 mounted n On the end of the shaft is a worm gear wheel 39 mounted on'a 3S engaging a co in a sleeve 41. Said shaft shaft 40 disposed 40 is j ournaled in said sleeve 41 and in the members 1 and 3* for a purpose aswill ap- "pear;' Similarly the shaft 35 is provided .With a worm 'g'ear'42 intermeshing with a gear 43 on.a shaft44 journaled in the sleeve V .41 and in the members 1 and 3. Each: of the shafts 4e and 44, in

.belt consists of two cables ers 57 are mounted Q wheels 46 and 47% the rail .the channels 14* and 4 respectively, is ,provided with a pair of .spaced cog wheels 46 adapted to receive the endless belt structure and drive the same, which endles's'b'elt structure is constructed vas follows, namely: Disposed in the chan- -.nels 4 and 4 just ahead. of the wheels 46 are two pair of wheels 47 provided with flanges 48.' .Mounted between the, members 46 and the center members 47 and. between the center and outer members 47 are rollers 49 mounted on shafts 50journaled in spring pressed journaled boxes :51. Theendless 52 mounted, on which are independentbelt sections, each -;se.ction comprising a treadplate 53 having outer'track sections. 54and-a center tread section 55,- all of such treadsections being joined by meansofbolts .56. .Sleev'es-or rollon the bolt 56 between the rail sections and are adapted .t'ojbe received by l .belt. The cables 52 project through and are secured .to the rail sections .54 in a curved ',slot 58 and. are held therein by removable sideplates v59 held against themembers 54 by. means of the bolts 56.. This curvature 58 permits ofa partial conforming of, the

endless. belt to the circumference of the sections move over each end of the-wheel.

. .itfmight be well tostate that instead of the particular form of cable 52 as shown in the draw gs, we may use in practice, a cabllle g t on eac 1 side of the belt-sections or we m1 use three or moresmall cables oneach side .held inthe same way as isthe single cable .or, we might use a flat cableadaptingxthe clampingtmeans to. fit the same. Fig. Galso broken out and showing the, methodofcon- .'.shown in Figs. 1and6- in orderto provide a .smooth fiat, uninterrupted surface I as the same moves over. the ground and similarly the rail sections54 .and 55 are alternately ,tongued and grooved as shown to form 1 .closed joints to maintain the track and tread i surfaces always in true and active operative spring wheel against tions desired the said worm their against action whenever the clutch is disconhe cog wheels 46 to drive the. ever. desir At this point ,under. all conditions.

.of the inventicnas Ition bf alt o a the spirit of the' invention. Having .thiu s' .;describedl our POSltlOIl and at the same time keep them free from clogging with dirt or other debris. The forward wheels 47 are provided with a suitable spring tension mechanism '60 consisting of spring pulled draw bolts which hold the endless belt from sagging. The pressed rollers 49' press against the central track sections 55 to maintain the tread sections against the ground surface in a horizontal manner and at the same time to permit the same to conformv to and to compensate for any roughness or unevenness ofthe ground surface. Thewheels 47,

, as will be apparent, receive the outertrack sections 54," the flanges 48 bearing against the sides of said track sections to maintain them in proper-position laterally.

By means of the inde endent shafts 40 and 44, one for each 0 the. endless belt wheels, and each shaft having anjindependent power transmitting means provided with independent clutches, this; permits both endless belt wheels to be driven'at one time or by. disconnecting one of said, clutches, only one ofsaid wheels may be driven, thus permitting the proper turningof corners or the like, due to the fact that the disengaged worm gear. locks .its corresponding belt action. Also for anyfcondicorresponding connected "wheels nected and thus when going down steep gears will lock hills the clutch may be thrown. out, when- -to a stop should it travel too fast..- Also in ed-which would bring -the ;-.tractor}'i goi up, hill-if the engine should be pullmentandat the sametime save whatever distance .had already been coveredwithout choking :the engine. This is one of the most important features. of the invention as it gives an absolute control of the tractor transmissiongearing 23 is a shaft 61 providedgwith a pulley 62 for use in stationary .worksuch asthedrivin'gv of other machines, such as thre'shergs or the like, by means of v H j the power of our improved tractor. shows a'portion of one of. the belt sections :readily seenthat ,we have produced such a device. asfsubstantially fulfills the. objects set, forth herein.

.Whilethis specific'ation, sets forth in de- .tail,l,the' present. and preferred construethe' device,. ci11 in Practice such deviations from suchv detail may be redo not. form, ,a] departure from invention described comprising Connected with the a'rd and -.it was desired toeasethe same, the clutch could bewthrown out and .what wefcIaim as newand useful andfdefirst named shafts and each having a wormwith one of said pinions, a independent means connectshatts with sand gear meshing driving shaft, mg each oi said worm gear driving shaft, a clutch means interposed in each of said independent connecting means whereby each worm gear shaft may be disassociated from said driving shaft independently of the other.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signa- 15 tures-in presence of two witnesses.

EDIE J. PATTERSON. FREDERICK S. MOORE.

Witnesses JOSHUA B. \VEBsTER, CLARENCE M SMITH. 

